See How This Dark Kitchen Turned into a Mint Green Dream

Diana Paulson
Diana PaulsonPhotographer
Equipped with an eye for photography and an interior design background, Diana has been blending these two passions to create stunning images for Apartment Therapy.
published Jan 2, 2018
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Diana Liang)

Diana Marsh spent 11 years living in Brooklyn before returning to her home state of Michigan. After purchasing this Ann Arbor house, she set out to renovate it. It had good bones, but was a bit on the small side and a lot on the dark side. As the owner of a brick-and-mortar store called Thistle and Bess, Diana has a keen eye for crafting creative spaces. Her year-long remodel of this house was no different! Although all the rooms got a facelift, the kitchen is the most unrecognizable.

(Image credit: Diana Liang)

Diana entertains often, and says she loves how “cozy the dining/kitchen area feels. Friends tend to gravitate to the dining table and kitchen island. Although the house is small, this area in particular feels open, bright and airy.”

Diana admits that her retro-style mint green refrigerator was a big indulgence. “For some reason, I was adamant that I wanted a mint green fridge in my all-white kitchen,” she says. “I spent months and months researching brands and styles, until I ended up deciding to go with the Retropolitan refrigerator by Big Chill. This particular model has the retro feel and bold color that I was looking for, with a more modern size. It was a gamble to put a huge green fridge in a clean, all-white kitchen, but it definitely payed off. I adore it.”

(Image credit: Diana Liang)

Gone are the dark-green countertops, dark wooden cabinets, and old-fashioned lighting. Diana used Pure White by Sherwin Williams all over the small kitchen, brightening up the space substantially. A classic marble countertop mixes with simple white tile and floating shelves filled with lovely kitchenwares and art. Schoolhouse Electric lighting is a big improvement. But the biggest and boldest element — the item that really makes the space — is that mint green fridge.

(Image credit: Diana Liang)

This post originally ran on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Before & After: A Drab & Dark Kitchen Turned Mint Green Dream